Bashar al-Assad

Congress moved this week to tighten the economic noose on the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, passing new sanctions that directly target his military alliance with Russia and Iran that has resulted in scores of civilian casualties.

Author Bob Woodward says former President Barack Obama “wasn’t tough enough” on the world stage, adding that former British prime minister David Cameron didn’t think Obama had what it took to “operate in the world” of thugs such as Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

The Trump administration issued a series of new sanctions on the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ahead of what U.S. officials believe is an “imminent attack” by the regime with help from Russia and Iran, according to an announcement by the Treasury Department.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.), one of President Trump’s staunchest allies in Congress, worked behind the scenes to try to persuade Trump not to cancel $230 million in aid to help Syrian citizens rebuild their communities struggling to recover from Islamic State rule, according to a congressional letter Meadow signed earlier this month.

As Bashar al-Assad retakes southwestern Syria, Israel is concerned. On July 1, the IDF moved tanks and artillery to the Golan border, a signal to the Syrian president to proceed with caution. To ensure the message was received, the Israeli army uncharacteristically announced the military reinforcement. The Jewish state seeks to ensure several red lines: 1) that Iran and its proxy Hezbollah leave Syria; 2) that Assad honors the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement; and 3) that a horde of refugees doesn’t storm its border.

The Syrian military, backed by Russian forces, renewed its offensive in southwestern Syria on Thursday after a four-day pause during which rebels attempted to negotiate an end to violence with Russian officials.